LEMON DROP KID has long been considered the heir of his great sire KINGMAMBO in America, and he’s showing why once more in 2013. LEMON DROP KID is a top 30 active sire by North American earnings, and has no fewer than nine stakes performers this year, including five graded-performing runners.

In his career, LEMON DROP KID is siring an impressive 11% stakes winners to starters, and is getting stakes runners to starters at a big 20% clip.

The red-hot stable of Gary and Mary West campaign one of LEMON DROP KID’s current standouts in Code West, who was considered an early triple crown contender. Recently he captured his first stakes in the Grade 3 Matt Winn S. at Churchill. The Bob Baffert-trained colt was beaten a scant nose when runner-up in the G2 Risen Star S. at Fair Grounds earlier in the year. Behind him that day was Preakness winner Oxbow.

Lane’s End Sales sold Code West, offered as part of Edward P. Evans’s Spring Hill Farm dispersal, for $340,000 at the 2011 Keeneland September Sale. Produced by the stakes-winning Saint Ballado mare Charitabledonation, he’s a full-sibling to two-time Grade 2 winner Charitable Man.

LEMON DROP KID’s other big 3yo gun is another owned by the Wests: the Ron Ellis-trained Treasury Bill. A $230,000 yearling acquisition, Treasury Bill was third in Betfair Hollywood Park’s Came Home S. in May after rallying from last to finish second in the G2 San Vicente S. at Santa Anita. Treasury Bill, a $230,000 yearling, was bred by Edward A. Seltzer & Beverly Anderson.

Among older horses, LEMON DROP KID is the sire of the Nutello, third in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club in France last year and winner of the Le Vase D’Argent S. this season. LEMON DROP KID can boast the progressive Pass the Dice, who was second in the G2 Churchill Downs S.; multiple Grade 1 winner Richard’s Kid, three-times graded placed in 2013; Donoharm, winner of the $100,000 Essex H. and $75,000 Fifth Season S. at Oaklawn; and Lime Rickey, runner-up in the Round Table S. at Hollywood in May.

LEMON DROP KID has plenty of up-and-comers, too. His 3yo daughter Precarious broke her maiden in a $75,000 Belmont MSW May 15, while his further recent MSW winners include the likes of Alette and Russkiy Lemon.

Still looking for the right sire for your mare? Call us about the ‘Kid’!